Muslim World League ramps up women’s empowerment efforts

Sumaiah Redwan, general manager of partnerships and corporate relations at MWL
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Updated 05 May 2022
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Muslim World League ramps up women’s empowerment efforts

  • The MWL has supported women’s participation in all fields inside and outside Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH: The Muslim World League has ramped up its women’s empowerment efforts, with several key leadership and management positions now filled by women.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 has always focused on the full participation of Saudi women at all levels in the labor market, contributing to the achievement of the Kingdom’s strategic goals.

Hutoon Mahmoud Sidiq, director of human resources at MWL, said: “MWL Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa has played an important role in stressing the importance and status of women in the Kingdom, and provided constant support for them to assume prestigious leadership positions, making women an effective partner in achieving successes at various levels both locally and globally.”

Hiring women into leadership positions in its headquarters and offices around the world has allowed the MWL to boost communication with women from different societies and promote religious moderation.

Women officials in the MWL are advancing the league’s mission to promote a tolerant and more peaceful world.

Sumaiah Redwan, general manager of partnerships and corporate relations at MWL, said: “The MWL has supported women’s participation in all fields inside and outside Saudi Arabia, and through its initiatives and conferences, it has been highlighting the key role women play in building bridges between nations and peoples.”

The MWL has enabled women’s innovation and creativity at work, giving them decision-making control, says Shaima Alluqmani, manager of planning, research and studies for the league’s undersecretariat for executive affairs.

“My vision is to contribute to achieving the MWL’s goals through efficient strategic planning, and contribute to developing an innovation-based future vision for humanitarian work worldwide,” she added.

By focusing on women’s voices, encouraging education for girls and supporting women’s empowerment, including equal wages and career opportunities, the MWL is in a process of creating a new generation of female leaders.

Eman Hussain Filimban, general manager of relief, welfare and development, said: “Women have been empowered to help contribute to the development of the MWL and play a role in the MWL’s excellent and outstanding results across all areas.” Filimban aims to place the MWL at the forefront of international organizations by offering high-quality humanitarian services and professional development projects that set an example in the humanitarian aid field.

Raising Saudi Arabia’s competitiveness both regionally and internationally is also an important target, she added.

The women’s empowerment targets of the MWL have their origins in Islam, which advocates a natural equality between the two genders.


Saudi Arabia’s Sharaan and Wadi Nakhlah nature reserves win Dark Sky recognition

Updated 25 December 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s Sharaan and Wadi Nakhlah nature reserves win Dark Sky recognition

  • The two reserves in AlUla join more than 250 locations worldwide that are protected from light pollution
  • AlUla Manara and AlGharameel Nature Reserve, also both in AlUla, received Dark Sky Park designations last year

ALULA: Two more nature reserves in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla have won recognition as Dark Sky Places, joining more than 250 locations worldwide that are protected from light pollution.

The official accreditation of Sharaan National Park and Wadi Nakhlah reserves from the DarkSky International builds on AlUla’s 2024 achievement, when AlUla Manara and AlGharameel Nature Reserve became the first sites in the Kingdom and the Gulf region to receive Dark Sky Park designations.

The latest recognition further strengthens AlUla’s position as a leading global destination for night sky protection and astronomical tourism, said the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Dark Sky International also announced the recognition in an earlier report, noting that the Sharaan and Wadi Nakhlah’s combined area of 6,146 square kilometers reflects the “expanded scope of environmental protection efforts aimed at preserving AlUla’s pristine night skies and reducing light pollution across a vast geographical area.”

DarkSky International works to reduce light pollution in both urban and rural areas and to raise global awareness of the importance of protecting the night sky.

AlUla’s natural isolation from urban light sources, combined with ideal atmospheric conditions, makes it a world-class destination for stargazing, astronomy education, and immersive dark-sky experiences.  (SPA)

 

AlUla’s protected areas are located in the heart of northwest Arabia, near the ancient oasis city of AlUla in Madinah Province.

“Towering sandstone cliffs, labyrinthine canyons, tranquil basins, and volcanic formations create a dramatic setting where geological diversity, cultural heritage, and thriving biodiversity converge beneath exceptionally dark, open skies,” Dark Sky said.

Scientists have noted that AlUla’s natural isolation from urban light sources, combined with ideal atmospheric conditions, makes it a world-class destination for stargazing, astronomy education, and immersive dark-sky experiences. 

With the phased development of its reserves, AlUla is now ranked 3rd globally in the Dark Sky Park category, solidifying its status as one of the world’s premier destinations for astronomical discovery.

The RCU reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the natural environment, preserving the night sky, and promoting sustainable tourism, further positioning AlUla as a leading global destination for astronomy, scientific research, and advanced environmental experiences, in line with AlUla Vision and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.